Removable anchored lung volume reduction devices and methods

Abstract

An intra-bronchial device may be placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes an obstructing member that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and an anchor that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may piercingly engage the air passageway wall. The anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member. The anchor may be releasable by collapsing a portion of the obstructing member, or by drawing the obstructing member toward the larynx. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical device for treating a lung, the medical device comprising:
 a support structure comprising:
 a central support structure having a proximal end and a distal end and an axial centerline; and 
 a plurality of support members extending in a proximal direction from the central support structure away from the axial centerline of the central support structure, one or more of the plurality of support members having a bent portion on a proximal end of the support member, the bent portion pointing away from the axial centerline; and 
 
 an obstructing member comprising a flexible membrane, the obstructing member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the obstructing member having cross dimension greater than a cross dimension of the distal end of the obstructing member, at least a portion of the obstructing member overlaying and in contact with at least a portion of the support members; wherein the medical device functions as a one way valve to permit inspiratory flow of air through an airway while occluding expiratory flow in the airway; and wherein the proximal end of the central support structure is positioned proximal to the distal end of the obstructing member. 
 
     
     
       2. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion includes an anchor end. 
     
     
       3. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion is positioned on a periphery of the proximal end of the obstructing member. 
     
     
       4. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support members are constructed from a shape memory material. 
     
     
       5. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the obstructing member forms a concave proximal face. 
     
     
       6. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is configured to permit fluid to pass between the flexible membrane a wall of an airway in an inspiratory direction when the medical device is deployed in the airway. 
     
     
       7. The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the support members is positioned within the central support structure. 
     
     
       8. An intra-bronchial device comprising:
 a tubular structure having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial centerline; 
 a plurality of strut arms extending from the proximal end of the tubular structure away from the axial centerline of the tubular structure, each of the plurality of strut arms having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a membrane in contact with an outer surface of at least a portion of the plurality of strut arms, the membrane having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the membrane attached to the tubular structure, the proximal end of the membrane connected to at least one of the plurality of strut arms; 
 at least one of the plurality of strut arms including an arcuate portion on a proximal end of the at least one strut arm, the arcuate portion including a tip shaped for anchoring the intra-bronchial device relative to an interior lumen wall of a lung airway, the membrane configured to at least partially occlude airflow through the lung airway in at least one direction; and wherein the proximal end of the tubular structure is positioned proximal to the distal end of the membrane. 
 
     
     
       9. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein the intra-bronchial device functions as a one-way valve to permit inspiratory flow of air through a lung airway while occluding expiratory flow in the lung airway. 
     
     
       10. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the membrane is further from the axial centerline of the tubular structure than the distal end of the membrane when the intra-bronchial device is in a deployed configuration. 
     
     
       11. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein the arcuate portion is positioned on a periphery of the proximal end of the membrane. 
     
     
       12. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of strut arms are constructed from a shape memory material. 
     
     
       13. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein intra-bronchial device occludes fluid flow in the lung airway in an inspiratory direction when the intra-bronchial device is deployed in the lung airway. 
     
     
       14. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein the intra-bronchial device is configured to permit fluid to pass between the membrane and a wall of the lung airway in an inspiratory direction when the intra-bronchial device is deployed in the lung airway. 
     
     
       15. The intra-bronchial device of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the struts is positioned within the tubular structure.